2013 Volume 4 Issue 2 Pages 27-32
The social and economic impact of modernisation processes of agriculture is diverse in rural sub-Sahara Africa.With the introduction of modern agricultural technology, such as high yield varieties, irrigation infrastructure and water distribution, paddy yield increased in Lower Moshi Irrigation Scheme (LMIS) in the Kilimanjaro region in Tanzania. The major aim for developing LMIS was to reduce rural poverty through improving food security and income from paddy production. It was partially achieved, however, generated controversial effects of unequal land and water distribution. In Tanzania, 84% of the female labour force is engaged in agriculture, consisting of about 50% of the total agricultural labour force. However, female farmers have limited access to and control over land and water due to pre-existing social and customary practices, as well as limited participation in the decision-making processes. Land ownership is a condition for obtaining a membership in the water association. And water is becoming scarce due to climate changes, encroachment on the forests and conflicts between upper-stream and down-stream. The main objective of this paper is to analyse relationships between women’s land ownership and water distribution through a case study of modern irrigation project. The research methods used are literature review, semi-structured interviews with male and female farmers, and statistical data analysis of landholdings. Main results of the study are: 1) the number and share of female land ownership increased in the last 25 years, however, the social and gender partiality about land inheritance and ownership are still persistent which prohibit female farmers from equal access to irrigation water, 2) changing regulations and practices of water users associations to be more gender-responsive lead into more equitable and impartial water distribution.
